Loek van Mil
Loek van Mil | |
---|---|
Pitcher | |
Born: Oss, Netherlands | 15 September 1984|
Died: 28 July 2019 Canberra, Australia[1] | (aged 34)|
Batted: Right Threw: Right | |
NPB debut | |
14 September, 2014, for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | |
Last NPB appearance | |
2014, for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles | |
NPB statistics | |
Win–loss record | 0–1 |
Earned run average | 4.15 |
Strikeouts | 7 |
Teams | |
Medals |
Ludovicus Jacobus Maria "Loek" van Mil (
Early life
Mil competed in
Mil reached the height of 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) at age 12, and grew to 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) by 14 and 2.11 m (6 ft 11 in) at the age of 15.
Career
Minnesota Twins
Van Mil signed a seven-year deal as a non-drafted free agent on 7 July 2005, with the
Van Mil pitched for the
Van Mil began his 2009 season in late May with the
Van Mil began the 2010 season with Fort Myers. He was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for Brian Fuentes on 27 August 2010.[9]
Los Angeles Angels
Mil was announced as the
With the
Cleveland Indians
On 5 May 2012, the Angels traded Van Mil to the
Rakuten Golden Eagles
Van Mil signed a one-year deal with the
Curaçao Neptunus
In March 2015 it was announced that van Mil would spend the year with
Return to the Minnesota Twins
Van Mil pitched for the Minnesota Twins AAA affiliate, the Rochester Red Wings, on 2 September 2015, pitching 2 scoreless innings in relief in his first action stateside since 2013.[17] On 10 April 2016, Van Mil in relief gave up four runs in 1.2 innings with a strikeout against Pawtucket, 4–9.[18] With the loss, the Red Wings went to 4–8 on the season, the team losing six of their last eight games.[18] They dropped to last place in the International League's Northern Division.[18]
The 7-foot-1 Dutch native had allowed 15 runs (14 earned) in 5 1/3 innings over his first five appearances (including one start) with Triple-A Rochester. On 25 April 2016, he was released by the Minnesota Twins.[19]
Australia
Van Mil played in the
Dutch national team
Van Mil joined the Netherlands national baseball team for the first time for the 2007 Baseball World Cup.
He competed as part of the KNB team in the 2017 World Baseball Classic in March 2017.[20] In what NBC reported was thought to be the tallest batter-pitcher matchup in baseball history, the 7-foot-1-inch (2.16 m) van Mil walked 6-foot-8-inch (2.03 m) Nate Freiman of Team Israel at the 2017 World Baseball Classic in a round one game.[21]
Scouting report
Van Mil threw a
Van Mil was 7-foot-1-inch (2.16 m) and weighed 240 pounds (110 kg). He was one of the tallest players in the history of professional baseball, tied with former Minor League Baseball prospect Ryan Doherty.[2]
Death
During a December 2018 series against the
On 29 July 2019, the Royal Netherlands Baseball and Softball Federation announced van Mil had died. He had announced his retirement from baseball to focus on his recovery only a week earlier.[27]
References
- ^ Gleeson, Scott (29 July 2019). "Loek van Mil, one of tallest baseball players ever at 7-foot-1, dies from 'fatal accident'". USA Today.
- ^ a b "MLB Pitcher Loek van Mil, Known as the World's Tallest Professional Baseball Player, Dies at 34". PEOPLE.com. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
At 7'1", van Mil also was one of the tallest pitchers in the baseball history, tying with former Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Ryan Doherty, according to Sports Illustrated.
- ^ a b c d e Brad Rock. "New Bees pitcher Loek van Mil is intimidating presence". Deseret News. Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ a b c "Salt Lake Bees: Pitcher Loek van Mil stands tall on the mound | The Salt Lake Tribune". Sltrib.com. Archived from the original on 2 May 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ "Major League Transaction Impacts Rock Cats' Roster | MiLB.com News | The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Milb.com. 28 August 2010. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ "Twins think big with this rookie". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 15 March 2006. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ a b "7-foot-1 Loek van Mil has grown into quite a pitching prospect for Minnesota Twins". TwinCities.com. March 2010. Archived from the original on 7 March 2010. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
- ^ "Twins add six to fill out 40-man roster". Archived from the original on 26 November 2009. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
- ^ Velle, La (27 August 2010). "Twins trade for lefthander Brian Fuentes". StarTribune.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
- ^ "Twitter / Aaron Gleeman: Twins send Loek van Mil to". Twitter.com. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
- ^ Christensen, Joe. "Twins send Van Mil to Angels completing Fuentes trade". StarTribune.com. Archived from the original on 13 October 2012. Retrieved 3 September 2010.
- ^ a b "Indians acquire 7-foot pitcher from Angels | indians.com: News". Cleveland.indians.mlb.com. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ "Angels trade 7-foot-1 Van Mil to Indians | angels.com: News". Losangeles.angels.mlb.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2012. Retrieved 8 May 2012.
- ^ Adams, Steve. "Minor Moves: Chris Jones, Loek Van Mil, Sergio Mitre". MLB Trade Rumors. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ a b "Loek van Mil back in Netherlands, to play in Rotterdam". Mister Baseball. Archived from the original on 7 March 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ "Roster for Team Europe for Global Baseball Match vs Japan announced – Asics sponsors Europe". Mister Baseball. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2015.
- ^ "Twins Minor League Report (9/2): Hicks! - Articles - Articles - Articles - Twins Daily". Archived from the original on 4 September 2015. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
- ^ a b c "RED WINGS REPORT, North Dakota Twins Fan: A Minnesota Twins Blog: April 2016". Archived from the original on 16 July 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ "Loek Van Mil - Minnesota Twins - 2017 Player Profile - Rotoworld.com". Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
- ^ "KNBSB - Koninklijke Nederlandse Baseball en Softball Bond". Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 27 September 2016.
- ^ "Video: 7' 1" vs. 6 '8" — the tallest pitcher-batter matchup ever | HardballTalk". 9 March 2017. Archived from the original on 11 March 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2017.
- ^ "Angels' reliever Loek van Mil stands above the rest - Jon Heyman - SI.com". Sportsillustrated.cnn.com. 5 March 2011. Archived from the original on 21 January 2012. Retrieved 6 May 2012.
- ^ "Loek van Mil: 7'1" Angels Pitcher Looks to Become Tallest Major Leaguer – bleacherreport.com". Bleacher Report. Archived from the original on 3 March 2011. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
- ^ "Minor League Baseball". Retrieved 6 June 2009.
- ^ "Dutch baseballer Loek van Mil gets lost while hiking and suffers horror injuries near Canberra". News.com.au. 11 December 2018. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- ^ Monagan, Matt (4 February 2019). "How Loek Van Mil, tallest player in the world, survived a horrific Australian hiking ordeal to win an ABL title". MLB.com. Major League Baseball. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
- Yahoo Sports. 30 July 2019. Retrieved 8 June 2021.
External links
- Career statistics and player information from MLB, or Fangraphs, or Baseball Reference (Minors)
- Van Mil's profile at honkbalsite.com (in Dutch)
- Loek van Mil, one of tallest baseball players ever at 7-foot-1, dies from 'fatal accident' (Loek van Mil Obituary at USA Today)